Deadly Apparel Factory Inferno in Bangladesh Has Taken no Fewer than 16 Victims
At least 16 persons have lost their lives after a massive fire broke out at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with authorities warning that the number of victims could rise.
Sixteen bodies have been retrieved but were burned unrecognizable, the fire service stated.
Heartbroken relatives assembled outside the multi-story factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on Tuesday in search of their dear ones still unaccounted for.
The inferno, which broke out at the factory around midday, was brought under control after three hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse continued to burn, officials said.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, media reports indicated.
Emergency responders have not determined which of the two buildings ignited initially.
Per witnesses, the chemical warehouse housed industrial bleaches, plastic and chemical peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Synthetic materials also emits poisonous gases when ignited.
Police and military officers are still trying to locate the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury briefed journalists.
An probe on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also in progress, he mentioned.
Weeping family members waited outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them holding photographs of their missing relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his family member.
"When I was informed of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my daughter back," he expressed to journalists.
The devastating event has once again emphasized the security issues facing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which engages numerous of workers and is a crucial provider of export earnings for the country.
